Birthday celebrations for Portsmouth’s aerospace hub

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GKN Aerospace in Portsmouth celebrated its 75th anniversary with a party for the 170 members of staff at its Airport Service Road site.

The company formed in 1939 as Fireproof Tanks Ltd in response to an Air Ministry requirement to develop ‘self-sealing’ fuel tanks that, in the impending war with Germany, would protect aircraft and crew from the horrific consequences of ballistics damage to the aircraft’s fuel supply.

In 1994, the company became part of GKN.

Richard Dove, general manager at GKN Aerospace – Portsmouth, said: ‘We are extremely proud of our roots in innovations that saved lives during the Second World War.

‘We are also proud of our performance with fuel and flotation tanks made here at our Portsmouth site selling to customers in America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East – as well as to our armed forces here at home.’